Allah the Exalted says: "There is no good in most of their secret counsels except (in his) who enjoins charity or goodness or reconciliation between people; and whoever does this seeking Allah's pleasure, We will give him a mighty reward." (4:114)

Allah the Exalted says: "O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and speak the right word." (33:70)

Ibn Abbas (Radhi-Allahu anhu) said: Achieving the following five matters is more beneficial than owning the best types of horses:

(1) Not involving yourselves in conversations that do not concern you, as there is no guarantee that you would not sin therein.

(2) Not talking about things that do concern you, until you find the proper time; as a person may talk about a matter that does concern them but at the wrong time and therefore produce a bad consequence.

(3) Not arguing with a wise or a foolish person, as the wise person would desert you and the foolish person would humiliate you.

(4) Mentioning your brother, in his absence, with things with which you would wish him to mention you with in your absence - and forgiving him for that which you would wish him to forgive you for.

(5) Performing the actions of one who is certain that he would be rewarded for the good and punished for the bad that he does.

The tongue is a gift from Allah. This is certainly not why Allah has gifted us with tongues and this is definitely not how gifts are appreciated. Nowadays, our gatherings are filled with unrestrained conversations that comprise of useless or even harmful talk.

Speech reflects our thoughts and mentality, as well as how morality, or its opposite, is spread through society.

A person must ask himself before saying anything: 'Is there any need for me to talk?' If there is a need, then it is fine to talk. Otherwise, silence is better because refraining from unnecessary speech is a form of worship. Abdullah Ibn Masood (Radhi-Allahu anhu) said: "I swear by the One besides Whom there is nothing worthy of worship: one's need to imprison their tongue is greater than anything else."

It is a fact that the majority of those who take the lead in vain talk during sinful gatherings talk so much that one who listens to them comes to realize that they themselves are not aware of what they are saying and that there is no thought-process behind their words.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: "No servants of Allah's belief will be correct until his heart is corrected, and his heart will never be corrected until his tongue is." The first phase of achieving this correctness is for a person to give up that which does not concern them and not to involve themselves in things that they were not asked about.

Islam has dispraised frivolities and idle talk as they are immaterial and evil. In fact, the more a person stays away from them, the higher their rank becomes with Allah. Conversely, the more a person indulges in them, the more their punishment will be with Allah.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: "The destruction of man lies in three (things): his stomach, his lusts, and his tongue."

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: "Among all things, the tongue deserves to be prisoned longer than anything else." (Because most of our sins are committed by it, such as backbiting, telling lies, defaming, mocking, insulting, etc.)

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: "Affliction caused by the tongue is worse than (that caused by) the strike of the blade of a sword."

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "Do contemplate (survey visually or mentally) before speaking so that you may guard yourself from (committing) errs."

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind."

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "A wise man first thinks and then speaks, and a fool speaks and then thinks."

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "Among all things, the tongue deserves to be prisoned longer than anything else." (Because most of our sins are committed by it, such as backbiting, telling lies, defaming, mocking, insulting, gossiping etc.)

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "One who is quick in saying unpleasant things about others, will himself quickly become a target to their scandal."

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "A man can be values through his sayings." and "The wiser a man is, the less talkative he will be."

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "One who has no control over his tongue will often have to face embarrassment and discomfort."

Amir-ul-Mumineen (Alahi Salaam) said: "The tongue is such a ferocious beast that if let loose, it will act ravenously."

Imam Baqir, the fifth Imam, (Alahi Salaam) said: "No one is safe from sins unless the one controls his/her tongue."

During the Abbasid period, one of the scholars in Baghdad, the capital of Muslim caliphate at that time, was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," the scholar replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," the scholar continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said the scholar. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," the scholar continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded the scholar, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

O you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful. [Noble Qur'an, Surah al-Hujurat 49:12]

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said defined Gheebat (Backbiting) when he said: "Do you know what is meant by backbiting?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, "To say something about your brother which he dislikes." One asked, "Even if what I say is true about my brother?" Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam replied, "If such defects you say are true about him, then you have backbitten him, and if he doesn't have what you say, then you have committed slander against him."

Hence, it is not allowed to talk about somebody in his/her absence, even if what was narrated was true. If it was not true, then it would be a bigger sin and it is called Buhtan (false accusation).

Allah the Exalted made it clear in Noble Qur'an that defaming another Muslim in his/her absence is like eating the flesh of one's dead brother (49:12), which obviously, everybody hates. Hence, it is the most dreadful sin. Note that if the person is present, he/she may have a chance to defend himself/herself, although everybody does not have the courage to defend themselves in these circumstances. If, however, he/she is defamed in his/her absence, the damage is deep and somewhat permanent.

The tongue alone does not do backbiting; it can also be done with the eyes, hands and other movements. For example, imitating somebody who is limping, in order to insult him/her.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: "Backbiting is a worse sin than adultery." It is further explained in a saying of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam: "Allah the Exalted may forgive a person if he/she repents after committing adultery. However, Allah the Exalted will not forgive the one who backbites, till his/her victim forgives him/her."

A woman one day said something that hurt (insult) her best friend. She regretted it immediately, and would have done anything to have taken the words back. But they were said, impulsively, in a moment of thoughtlessness, and as close as she and her friend were, she didn't consider the effects of her words beforehand.

In her effort to undo what she had done, she went to an older, wiser woman in the village. Explaining her situation, and asked for advice. The older woman listened patiently in an effort to determine just how sincere the younger woman was, how far she was willing to go to correct the situation.

The wise women said, "There are two things needed to do to make amends. The first of the two is extremely difficult. Tonight, take your best feather pillows, and open a small hole in each one. Then, before the sun rises, you must put a single feather on the doorstep of each house in town. When you are through, come back to me. If you've done the first thing completely, I'll tell you the second."

The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore. All night long she laboured alone in the cold. She went from doorstep to doorstep, taking care not to overlook a single house. Her fingers were frozen, the wind was so sharp it caused her eyes to water, but she ran on, through the darkened streets, thankful there was something she could do to put things back the way they once were.

Just as the sun rose, she returned to the older woman. She was exhausted, but relieved that her efforts would be rewarded. "My pillows are empty. I placed a feather on the doorstep of each home."

Now, said the wise woman, "Go back and refill your pillows. Then everything will be as it was before."

The young woman was stunned. "You know that's impossible! The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps! You didn't say I had to get them back! If this is the second requirement, then things will never be the same."

"That's true", said the older woman. "Never forget. Each of your words is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken, no amount of effort, regardless how heartfelt or sincere, can ever return them to your mouth. Choose your words well, and guard them most of all in the presence of those you love, because remember one kind word can warm three winter months."

"OH Muslims! People Will Judge Your Islamic Values by Your CONDUCT towards them and NOT By Your Performance of Religious Rituals (Salaah, Fasting, Hajj etc)"